Court admits alleged coup plotters’ statements and videos as evidence

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted as evidence the statements and video recordings that six people accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government made during military interrogation.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled at the end of a trial-within-trial that the defendants gave the statements and took part in the recordings voluntarily. She dismissed their claims that the military tortured, induced or forced them, calling the claims an afterthought.

The ruling means the prosecution can use the defendants’ own interrogation accounts against them on charges that include treason and terrorism.

The defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation arraigned them on 22 April on a 13-count charge. The counts include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

Abdulmalik ordered the trial-within-trial on 11 May after defence lawyers objected that the statements and videos had not been given voluntarily. By then the prosecution had called four witnesses, including an army officer identified only by the codename “AAA”, who tendered the interrogation videos.

Defence Minister Christopher Musa said in September that investigators considered the alleged plot real and that the suspects had been handed over for prosecution.

The trial continues on 7 and 10 December.

Sources: Channels Television; Punch